Illuminated ornamental device



1927' R. w. BOCK ILLUMINATED ORNIfHENTAL DEVICE Filed Sept. 2, 1925Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES RICHARD W. BOCK, OF RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS.

ILLUMINATED ORNAMENTAL DEVICE.

Application filed September 2, 1925. Serial No. 54,044.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the device, Fig

2 being a medial vertical section through the device of Fig. 1, Fig. 3being in face view a fragmentary enlargement of parts 5 surrounding oneof the light openings, and Fig. 4. being an enlarged sectional viewthrough parts defining a preferred form of one of the light openings. J

The device in question will ordinarily take 0 the form of a tree,shrubbery or a similar object of nature. In the one illustrated, thetree form represents an evergreen, and, being coated at appropriateplaces with a white sparkling substance, would readily be accepted or.known a representation of a Christmas tree. It may be in various sizesand may have such other shapes as is suitable and appropriate to theparticular object represented. It will ordinarily be made of hardenedplastic material, for instance plaster of Paris, and when in a formsimilar to that illustrated, and in various other forms also, it may bemade in flexible molds according to practices well understood.

The object is to provide an ornamental device of such kind and characterwhich will not only be pleasing to the eye with respect to its outerconfiguration, but which, when illuminated, will produce the veryunusual effect of being decorated with glowing elements. The effect inquestion is to be distinguished from such as would obtain if an objecthaving a hollow interior with a source of light therein contained mereperforations in its side walls, in which case rays of light wouldemanate through such openings but without producing the desired glowwhich through my experimentations and study I have been able to obtainby the provisions disclosed herein.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the body 10 has a hollowinterior 11 which is narrow at the top and gradually widens downwardlyand that there is a bottom wall 12 having a central opening at 13adapted to encompass for ready removability the upstanding stem 14 ofthe base 15, there being a shoulder at 16 whereby the body 10 will besupported in its normal and upright position by the base.v The lampsocket 17 is rigid with the base, and the conduit wires 18 provide asource of current for the bulb 19 which is the source of the interiorillumination. This source of light 19 is preferably close to the bottomof the device and will ordinarily be so arranged, especially in thebody,but whereby, rather, the light issuing through the side wall openingswill be reflected from the white or otherwise reflecting inner surfaceof the hollow body.

A considerable number of openings 22 are formed through the side wallsof the body in scattered-about relation and from top to bottom. Theseopenings are preferably somewhat irregular in shape and lead through thewall from the inside outwardly preferably on diverging lines. It will benoted that the body conformation shown produces a plurality ofprojecting ledges or more fiat or more horizontal ring-like sur faces at23, and that the openings 22 are shown as merging into these ledges 23.

A highly advantageous construction of the openings 22 and their relationto the ledges 23 respectively is well shownin the enlarged view of Fig.4, in which it will be noted that the ledge is concave adjacent to theopening 22, the upper wall 24 widening out away from the wall 23 whilethere is an adjacent side wall, projection or elevation 25 eitherdefined by the thickness of the wall of the body 10 or by some irregularprojection on the ledge or issuing from the body wall, all to the effectthat there are reflecting areas adjacent to the openings 22 in sucharrangement that light issuing through the opening 22 strikes thesewalls and is diifused and in some instances reflected back and forthbefore issuing to the eye of the observer, and thus giving the result ofilluminating various irregular surfaces at and about the opening as 22and producing at these areas a peculiar and highly attractive glow.

The bulb 19 may be of plain white glass but is preferably of colored orstained glass, for instance ruby or green. When the ruby light isemployed areas about the openings 22 glow with a soft red light fadinginto delicate pinks at the margins, and when a green bulb is used thereis a pale green glow at and about these apertures diffused into lightershades.

It is not essential that the ledge formation be employed although thatis preferable since it provides relatively large areas adjacent to theopenings 22 capable of reflecting and diii'using the light rays andproducing a better effect than where such rearations foriniitatingsnoware on the market. This coating is applied so as to enterthe openings 22 and to cover the reflecting areas about themrespectively.

Other parts of the tree-like object such as the outer walls 2% beginningat about an of Fig. 4, are colored green, preferably by a shinycoatingsuch as is obtainable with what is known as green bronze paint, and

giving the device a pleasing snow-coated tree effect. The white coatingmay be omitted, but with some lossof brilliancy of effect, unless someother sparkling and reflecting material be used.

When the ob ect is illuminated interiorly the rays issuing from the bulbstrike the inner side walls and are reflected back and forth from itsreflecting surface until the interior is all aglow, and some of theserays issuing through the openings 22 play upon the reflecting anddifliusing surfaces about the opening with the result that theilluminated'object appears to be decorated from top to bottom withelements producing a diffused glow as distinguished from a bright light,which glow is irregular in outline and fades awayinto lighter shades andfinally to nothingness atits periphery andproduces an unusuallyattractive effect which, so far as "I am aware, has never hitherto beenattained.

The uses of the object are entirely for ornamental purposes, as inhomes, display windows of stores, etc.

I contemplate as being within the present invention such variations,changes and modifications of what is herein specifically illustrated anddescribed as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A decorative object of opaque material having a hollow interior andhaving outer surfaces of irregular shape forming hollows andrecessesthereinand projections thereupon extending outwardly ad acent :to therespective *reeesses and cooperating to define the recesses, the wallsof the ob ect having openings therethrough leading tothe hollowinterior, said openings being located in such hollows and recessesrespectively, a source of light within the hollow interior, and meansfor supporting the object in-its normal position, the arrangement ofsaid openings beingsuch that the glow from thehollow interior isdiffused by the walls defining'the openings respectively and by outersurfaces ofithe projections adjacent thereto to produce glowing areaatand about the openings.

As an article of manufacture, an ornamental object formed of hardenedplastic material in the general shape of and representinga tree,shrubbery or the like, and having outwardly extending parts formingrecessed portions, and representing hollows,

recesses and projections of aitree, shrubbery or like object, the objecthaving a hollow interior, means for supporting the object in uprightposition, and illuminating means withinthe hollow interior, the wallsforming'the hollow interior having a materially large number ofspaced-apart openings tl'ierethrough, said openings being at suchrecessed portions and through which the glow from the interior issues,areas about said openings respectively and in the path of reflectedlightrays frorn the hollow interior being covered with a. sparklingmaterial.

RICHARD w. BOOK.

